This conference gave us a fantastic opportunity to talk to over 300 Rotarians from across our district about Project Starfish and allowed us to get the ball rolling by spiking the interest of many clubs in the area. We have the Rotary clubs of St Kilda, Dunedin, and Dunedin South to thank for the funding for this trip, we couldn’t have made it without you! The conference itself ran with the crucial presences of the District Governor Karen Purdue, the trademark character of Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, John Prendergast, and the Rotary International President’s Representative Bryn Styles. In between their addresses and wonderful local entertainment we experience five outstanding key note speakers: Marcus Akuhata-Brown, Amanda Wirtz, Daniel Walker, Scott Gilmour, and Julie Chapman. We also heard about the various activities of our Rotary community. Each of these displayed the commitment and quality of Rotarians, a family we here at Rotaract are proud to call ourselves part of, as well as setting a fantastic precedent for the upcoming Rotary year. A particular incentive to our presence this year was the opportunity to meet Daniel Walker, who founded Nvader, an agency working towards liberating sex slaves. He presented us with a courageous and powerful message on the horrors of child sex trafficking and his emotional journey throughout his travels. Daniel talked on his times going undercover in brothels across Asia and, to a shudder and gasp of the audience, the horrors of children, as young as five or six, being brought into the room. The brothel was later raided by armed police but not all the children could be saved, some running back into the village and returning to the only life they knew. This is why we are embarking on this journey. To put an end to such atrocities and prevent the lives of thousands of children like them from falling into darkness. Daniel went on to speak about the massive emotional stress such work puts on him and the lives those around him. He was personal, profound and above all courageous, reaching every member in the audience, and particularly giving us greater passion with which to continue this project! Then came our opportunity to speak. Firstly, Lark Hare, the outgoing President of our Rotaract club, spoke first on the outstanding work we have achieved over the year. Georgia and I were up next and, leading on nicely from Daniel’s talk, challenged the Rotarians to help us tackle this issue. They were all appalled at what was happening to young children in Thailand but now was their chance to do something about it. We were both happy with how our short speeches had gone and the reception that they had received by the Rotary family. Thanks again to the Rotary clubs of St Kilda, Dunedin, and Dunedin South for getting us there and Karen Purdue and her team for organizing such a great weekend. We are looking forward to speaking again in the future and helping to spread the word of Project Starfish!
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July 2018
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